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8 The Pioneer, Monday, March 5 – 6, 2018 News ...For leadership & service Gov’s Aide Bags FNSE Award ABUJA He seized the opportunity of the conferment lecture themed: Power he managing director Sector Reform in – the of Ibom Power Com Missing Link to lend his voice on Tpany Limited and spe- the privatization of power assets. cial assistant (SA) on power He said the privatization has not to Gov Udom Emmanuel, Mr improved the financial viability of Meyen Etukudo, has been con- ferred with the distinguished power companies across the na- Fellowship of the Nigerian tion. Society of Engineers (NSE). Etukudo suggested that a lot of At the 5th Fellowship con- money is still needed to be pumped ferment lecture and Fellow- into Nigeria’s power sector. ship conferment ceremony of “I came from the NEPA back- the NSE at the Banquet Hall ground and NEPA staff really re- of NAF Conference in Abuja, sisted privatization, because it was recently, the NSE president, not ripe… the platform was not Mr Otis Anyaeji, said the con- ready. Look at generation compa- ferment was as a result of nies, how do they pay for gas, Etukudo’s hard work and con- where is the money to pay? How tributions to the development do they do turnaround mainte- of the engineering profession nance when there is no money? and his immediate commu- Today, distribution cannot give nity. meters to 50 per cent of the power The Akwa Ibom accountant-general, Pastor Uwem Andrew-Essien (right), presenting a cheque to the community project management Anyaeji said that the engi- consumers in Nigeria. So a lot of committee (CPMC), Utu Ikot Ukpong under the AKSG/World Bank Community Development Project at E3 Event Centre, Uyo Village neers conferred with the fel- things still have to be done,” he Road, Uyo, while the general manager of agency for community and social development, Mr Ismael Akpan (3rd left), lowship have distinguished stated. the clan head of Offot Ukwa, Uyo Local Government Area, Chief Sylvanus Okon (2nd left) and other village heads look on. themselves in the engineering profession and are joining the cese of Ikot Ekpene, Most Rev. league of elite professionals Sunday Uko, charged the fam- in delivering value services to ily of the deceased and sympa- the development of the nation. Gov Emmanuel Eulogises thizers to see the Ukwak’s fu- He said: “This conferment neral as a time for reflection on of fellowship must not be life. seen as an end in itself but an Uko who based his preaching opportunity to be of greater on the theme: I have Finished service to the Nigerian Soci- Late Ex- L G Chairman the Race ety of Engineers; supporting , taken from 2 Timo- its projects and programmes, By Enefiok Ndon the Methodist Church Nigeria Emmanuel stressed that the calculated and dedicated leader thy 4:7, described life as a race (MCN), Abak Circuit, Arch- businessman-cum-politician whose virtues and good works in which one has to run with and lending your voices and ABAK muscles to its quests to diocese of Ikot Ekpene, said the was one of the founding fathers stood him out not only as a focus to run and finish well. He pointed out that some change the face of engineer- ov. Udom Emmanuel government and the people of of the defunct National Party of member of Local Government people can start the race but ing practice. I therefore has paid tributes to the Akwa Ibom shared in the pain- Nigeria (NPN) and the present Reform Committee in 2003 but cannot finish it, hence they should charge you to continue to late ex- chairman ful exit of the octogenarian. Peoples Democratic Party also as a person that impacted G He implored the family to be (PDP) where he midwifed them on his community and helped to strive to finish it to get the nec- prove yourselves as worthy of the old Abak Local Govern- essary reward. ambassadors of NSE.” ment Area, Sir Sunny Ukwak, comforted and consoled in the to be great parties of repute. shape the society as he was not Reading from Job 14:7-14, The conferee, Etukudo, who as his remains were interred at fact that the deceased lived a life The governor observed that as just a political icon but an entre- Tim. 4: 1-8, he prayed God to has 32 years working experi- Ikot Obiodo village, Abak Lo- of great impact throughout his the chairman of former Abak preneur who created jobs give His believers the grace to ence in the National Electric cal Government Area, at the lifetime. Division, the late Ukwak was through his businesses, being a finish their race to benefit from Power Authority (NEPA), weekend. The governor, represented by committed to the welfare of the contractor and one who estab- Power Holding Company of His reward in heaven. The governor in a condolence the secretary to the state gov- people and brought significant lished cinema hall. Nigeria (PHCN) and Trans- Born in 1936, the late Ukwak message presented to the ernment, Sir Etekamba Umoren, development to his community The governor prayed God to mission Company of Nigeria is survived by six children and deputy governor, Mr Moses described the late Ukwak as and the entire local government grant the devout Knight of John (TCN) appreciated the NSE many relatives including the Ekpo, and the entire family of not only a politician of note but area. Wesley (KJW) eternal rest in the for conferring him with the deputy governor, Ekpo, his the deceased at the funeral of the an inclusive politician devoid of He further eulogized him as a bosom of Abraham and fortitude highest award for practising nephew. departed Ukwak conducted by hatred and acrimony. highly respected, to the family to bear the huge engineering in Nigeria. loss. The family received message The deputy governor said the of condolences from the wife of uncle would be greatly missed the governor, Mrs Martha “PindTo Amplify Voices Of Rural Women in the family and described him Emmanuel, and several others. as an honest and effective At the funeral service were Farmers At International Women’s Day Event gentleman who taught all in the the speaker, Akwa Ibom House family to be honest. Assembly, Mr Onofiok Luke; OWERRI of over 200 women cassava and Imo. PIND works to re- farmers supported by PIND cent of women in the Niger He stated that the family the state chief judge, Justice Delta are in agriculture. duce poverty by acting as a he Foundation for Part and its partners operate. They catalyst for systemic change would always key into the Godwin Abraham; the leader of will be joined by Multi-Purpose Through this outreach aware- in the Niger Delta through four church projects and to re- the House, Sir Udo Kierian; nership Initiatives in the ness, PIND wants to shine the commissioners, Assembly mem- Niger Delta (PIND), in Cooperative farmers’ Associa- interrelated and interdepen- design the altar before Christ- T spotlight on these women and dent program areas: Economic mas. bers, former deputy governor, collaboration with Cara Devel- tion also from attract key stakeholders to take Development, Peace Building, In a gospel delivered by the Obong Chris Ekpenyong; and a opment Foundation and Afri- MezieUmukabiaOgodo and Capacity Building and Analy- host of other dignitaries. Eziorsu Palm Oil Farmers As- actions that will help to boost archbishop of MCN, Archdio- can Youth Development productivity and profits for sis and Advocacy. sociation in Oguta. Foundation, will host over 120 them and grow their farming rural women farmers in the The outreach will also have the media, government repre- and small businesses. Info Boss Assures Of Food Sufficiency Niger Delta to a town hall meet- About PIND ing tomorrow to mark this sentatives, legislators and UYO based businesses in the state. The commissioner congratu- agricultural service providers The Foundation for Partner- lated NTA for the successful year’s International Women’s ship Initiatives in the Niger he Akwa Ibom commis Udoh, represented by the act- Day. in attendance to engage with hosting of the event and lauded Delta (PIND) was established sioner for information ing director of strategy, Mrs the theme of the summit, Go- Themed ‘’Time is Now: the women. and strategy has ex- Grace Akpan, listed some of the Transforming Lives of Rural During the outreach, the ru- by Chevron in 2010 with a mis- T ing Back to our Roots, Agricul- sion to build partnerships for pressed optimism that with the strides by the governor in this ture the Sure Way. Women in Small Businesses ral women farmers will interact new vista opened in agriculture regard to include over 1000 and Agriculture’, the outreach with the media, government, peace and equitable economic Highlight of the event was development in the Niger Delta by Gov Udom Emmanuel, high hectares of cassava plantations presentation by different nurs- aims to showcase the contri- elected representatives and market prices of foodstuffs and cultivated across the state with butions of these women farm- service providers to tell their region of Nigeria. The objec- ery and secondary schools on tive of these partnerships is to scarcity of staple food would improved cassava seedlings and the theme of the summit. ers to the rural economy and stories and speak about their high yielding farming method, draw attention to the con- reduce poverty and increase soon be a thing of the past in the Present at the occasion were needs and concerns. The fo- state. rice cultivation, new breed to- the wife of the governor, Mrs straints limiting them from maxi- rum will provide a platform for socio-economic benefits by implementing interventions Mr Charles Udoh, who was mato cultivation, coconut plan- Martha Emmanuel, represented mizing the immense opportu- the stakeholders present to tation and cocoa plantations for by the wife of the speaker of the nities in their respective agri- appreciate the contributions of that address the root causes speaking at the Children Sum- of conflict and poverty in a lo- mit organised by the Nigerian export. Akwa Ibom House of Assem- cultural value chains. the women farmers and to col- He said in addition to this, bly (AKHA), Dr Uduak Luke; The townhall outreach will lectively deliberate on how to calized and sustainable man- Television Authority (NTA) at ner, resulting in stability and the Civil Service Auditorium, government has provided farm- the chairman of the Local Gov- hold in MezieUmukabiaOgodo improve support to the ernment Service Commission, Community in NgorOkpala equitable increases in employ- Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, ing implements like subsidised women. fertilisers and soft loans to Sir Val Attah who was the chair- Local Government Council, Rural women account for 70 ment and incomes of individu- said Emmanuel is committed to als in nine target states: Riv- food sufficiency for the teem- farmers as well extension ser- man on the occasion and the gen- Imo State where the percent of agricultural labor, eral manager of NTA, among Aladinmma Multi-Purpose ers, Bayelsa, Delta, Abia, Akwa ing people, hence the huge in- vices to ensure good farming and 80 percent of food produc- processes and maximum yields. others. Cooperative Society made up tion in Nigeria. About 40 per- Ibom, Cross River, Ondo, Edo, vestment in agriculture and agro-

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